I originally reserved a "Chevrolet Spark or similar" with the idea that they'll likely upgrade me to a better car for the same price.
Then I realized that "Spark, or Similar" could also mean a 1st gen Spark, or a Mitsubishi Mirage, so I canceled that reservation and reserved a "Nissan Versa or similar" that had a picture of a Ford Focus. :huh:
When I got there, I was put into this Nissan Altima, that upon closer inspection had clearly had the rear bumper replaced and not even an attempt was made to color match it correctly.
(https://s21.postimg.org/lpyg6smbr/IMG_9312.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/fp0r9pzpf/)
(https://s21.postimg.org/olbjdnqbr/IMG_9323.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/cjg5jih37/)
+ The fuel tank is big, and the range is wide. I only used one tank driving from Kirkland, WA to Portland, OR, and driving around Portland. Then back to Kirkland.
+ Fuel Economy was pretty thrifty - I paid no attention to economical driving (I was focused on driving down I-5 quickly) and I averaged 30.5MPG.
+ The seats are comfortable.
+ the base sound system is acceptable.
+ The QR25 isn't a very new motor, but somehow they have turned shit into sugar - it feels a lot better in this application compared to the old Altimas ive driven with this engine.
- It's a very ugly car.
- I like CVT's when they act like CVT's - this thing does this weird lull in ratios to simulate shifting and instead it just feels like 2 Fast 2 Furious with it's unrealistic umpteen upshifts.
- Steering doesn't have much feel and the ratio feels weirdly too slow
- no apple carplay (Even the new Mirage has this)
Who would buy this new? It seems like it was formulated specifically to be a rental car. Even the 1.5T Chevy Malibu rental I had had more standard features, more room, and was sharper to drive with better fuel economy.
I'm more interested in that red Mercedes GLC behind it; and SUVs are not my thing. :lol:
The different-colored rear bumper is hilarious. :tounge:
My mom had to return her Forte rental due to faulty airbag sensor and ended up with a Sentra. Even she said it was a POS after 10 minutes, and the car was covered in Nissan shipping stickers across every door, and bumper seam/gap it was ridiculous. I'll never give my money anywhere but National.
I feel like Nissan is starting down the same road Mitsubishi is on. My view of their current lineup is pretty much how I felt about Mitsu's back 10 or 12 years ago.
Nissan took all the love the Altima needs and put it into the Maxima. THAT is a damn good car.
Quote from: MX793 on July 27, 2017, 04:47:36 AM
I feel like Nissan is starting down the same road Mitsubishi is on. My view of their current lineup is pretty much how I felt about Mitsu's back 10 or 12 years ago.
Agreed. This makes their current marketing tagline, "Innovation that excites", all the more annoying.
Nissan has always been questionable across their lineup. The Sentra was never thorougly excellent across the lineup like the Civic, and aside from the 2002 Altima 3.5 I can't really think of any monster mainstreamers they've had. Now the 1st and 2nd gen FM cars are pretty much excellence defined ;) but the 3rd gen stuff has fallen into the same traps as the similarly declining competition. The last unarguably great car from Nissan that we saw in the US was the Z32 IMO.
It has never been as bad as this, imo:
The Sentra, Versa, and Altima are all pretty much crap.
The Titan is a redesigned pickup that is already in last place in pretty much everything.
The work van they launched is seen as a joke.
The Rogue is the rental/sub prime queen it's always been.
The 370Z was eclipsed by the V6 Mustang in 2011 and Nissan hasn't cared since.
Does anyone even buy the Armada or Pathfinder or whatever they call it now?
There is no more Xterra.
The only bright spot is the Maxima with the Murano being pretty decent too.
They even have a Rogue Sport, which is some real 1990's GM Classic BS.
Quote from: Laconian on July 27, 2017, 11:54:02 AM
They even have a Rogue Sport, which is some real 1990's GM Classic BS.
??? Rogue Sport is just the EU Qashqai.
You're thinking Rogue Select
Oh, right. Rogues are selling well thanks to that Star Wars tie-in! Quick, let's confuse consumers by making the name mean other things!
I know someone who had a Rogue Select. They didn't know the difference, but got rid of it like a year later because they were a couple living in the Chicago area with no need for two vehicles.
Eh. All automakers have fleet specials.
And it's no different than the "Outlander Sport" that is a smaller "sportier" outlander
Quote from: Xer0 on July 27, 2017, 11:51:16 AM
It has never been as bad as this, imo:
The Sentra, Versa, and Altima are all pretty much crap.
The Titan is a redesigned pickup that is already in last place in pretty much everything.
The work van they launched is seen as a joke.
The Rogue is the rental/sub prime queen it's always been.
The 370Z was eclipsed by the V6 Mustang in 2011 and Nissan hasn't cared since.
Does anyone even buy the Armada or Pathfinder or whatever they call it now?
There is no more Xterra.
The only bright spot is the Maxima with the Murano being pretty decent too.
But the GT-R is still dope!
What have all of their engineers been doing if all of their cars are out of date?
Quote from: Xer0 on July 27, 2017, 11:51:16 AM
It has never been as bad as this, imo:
The Sentra, Versa, and Altima are all pretty much crap.
The Titan is a redesigned pickup that is already in last place in pretty much everything.
The work van they launched is seen as a joke.
The Rogue is the rental/sub prime queen it's always been.
The 370Z was eclipsed by the V6 Mustang in 2011 and Nissan hasn't cared since.
Does anyone even buy the Armada or Pathfinder or whatever they call it now?
There is no more Xterra.
The only bright spot is the Maxima with the Murano being pretty decent too.
The Versa is fine for a super-cheap car: spacious, economical and reliable. The Rogue and Pathfinder aren't class-leading, but neither is an embarrassment -- I'd take both over their Toyota competitors, which are much worse to drive. The Sentra and Altima are pretty lifeless, but they're potentially fine for someone looking for a value option.
I agree that the Titan and Z are flailing and that only the Maxima and Murano are particularly interesting, but the heart of the lineup isn't meritless.
Quote from: MX793 on July 27, 2017, 04:47:36 AM
I feel like Nissan is starting down the same road Mitsubishi is on. My view of their current lineup is pretty much how I felt about Mitsu's back 10 or 12 years ago.
It's a real shame about Mitsubishi. I always felt they had some of the best-looking designed cars (along with Mazda) of all the Japanese car manufacturers. Even during the boring 1990s (where car design was dull, IMO), I felt that Mitsubishi stood out among the Japanese brands with handsome if not visually-pleasing car design.
Today there's not a single Mitsubishi that looks good.
It's like a Greek tragedy.
Quote from: ifcar on July 27, 2017, 12:15:09 PM
The Versa is fine for a super-cheap car: spacious, economical and reliable. The Rogue and Pathfinder aren't class-leading, but neither is an embarrassment -- I'd take both over their Toyota competitors, which are much worse to drive. The Sentra and Altima are pretty lifeless, but they're potentially fine for someone looking for a value option.
I agree that the Titan and Z are flailing and that only the Maxima and Murano are particularly interesting, but the heart of the lineup isn't meritless.
Besides the Maxima/Murano, Nissan has pretty much become a value brand that pushes ridiculously low lease rates for aspiring Uber/Lyft drivers. I just don't think that's where Nissan should be positioning itself.
There is really no room to play. The auto market is too competitive, especially in the mainstream market. What can Nissan do? IF anyone says "make the cars more fun to drive" I will come throw your computer in the garbage.
I feel like Nissan has given up on the mainstream market. FWIW Infiniti seems much more exciting and competitive.
Infiniti makes nothing exciting either. Nissan is probably the least interesting OEM out there IMO.
Quote from: MrH on July 27, 2017, 10:14:31 PM
Infiniti makes nothing exciting either. Nissan is probably the least interesting OEM out there IMO.
Peak Infiniti was the G35 and FX45 in 2002. Otherwise, a very boring brand.
????
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fM2OMA1pnh0/maxresdefault.jpg)
(http://st.automobilemag.com/uploads/sites/11/2016/01/2017-Infiniti-Q60-Coupe-rear-end-021.jpg)
(http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-Infiniti-Q50-Q60-VR-twin-turbo-V-6-2.jpg)
(https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/infiniti_-vc-t_tech_jpg_4k.jpg)
If Infiniti isn't exciting, who is? BMW? MB? Jaguar? I suppose Alfas are exciting in that every drive is a gamble :lol:
Infiniti is def not what it once was, but I can't think of any other brands besides maybe MB or Audi doing it better. Everyone else is either a complete crap shoot or totally generic and similarly in decline. Yes I'm fanboiing but I can back it up.
This is hands down the most beautiful car Infiniti has ever made, IMO. :mrcool:
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fM2OMA1pnh0/maxresdefault.jpg)
No way, this will always take the cake:
(https://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/img/I4RioFkbmR8ce2QanUEaTOzJE34=/770x578/2007/07/16/eec45a18-c069-40fd-94c0-4d54cb1220bb/CAB60INC082A0102.png)
Those never did anything for me. I've seen one here with Spanish license plates. Didn't raise my heart beat despite being an "exotic" car here.
Design is subjective!
Quote from: CALL_911 on July 29, 2017, 04:02:43 PM
No way, this will always take the cake:
(https://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/img/I4RioFkbmR8ce2QanUEaTOzJE34=/770x578/2007/07/16/eec45a18-c069-40fd-94c0-4d54cb1220bb/CAB60INC082A0102.png)
My brother had one of those in red. Great car. He got rid of it a few years ago after getting married and deciding to start a family.
The G35 is a Nissan anyways